British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as ISIS - established jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among numerous British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to remove militants who endanger our security, shows how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
